In a thrilling finale to the 2025 Giro d’Italia earlier this month, Wout van Aert played a pivotal role in determining the outcome of the Maglia Rosa. The Belgian rider gave everything on the penultimate stage to help his teammate, Simon Yates, secure his second Grand Tour victory, showcasing a masterfully executed team strategy by Visma. Yet, as impressive as Van Aert’s performance was on stage 20, it doesn’t quite match the level he displayed during the 2022 Tour de France.
In that Tour, Van Aert was instrumental in Jonas Vingegaard’s overall triumph over Tadej Pogacar. He not only claimed three stage wins and the Green Jersey but also relentlessly attacked and contributed heavily in the mountains. “The Van Aert we saw in the 2022 Tour was among the most remarkable cyclists I’ve ever witnessed,” noted veteran Belgian cycling analyst Michel Wuyts in an interview with Wieler Revue. “His performance was nearly superhuman winning stages, chasing green jersey points every day, and working tirelessly in the mountains for Vingegaard. You almost wanted to shout, ‘Take a break already!’”
However, in recent years, Van Aert has struggled to reach those same heights, with setbacks like illness and injury affecting his form. As a result, some in the cycling world have become increasingly critical. Wuyts, however, feels Van Aert’s incredible 2022 Tour is unfairly overlooked. “People are too focused on the present,” he said. “The media is quick to judge right after a race. We need to be more balanced in our assessments.”
Despite recent challenges, Van Aert has proven he still belongs at the top of the sport, with three stage wins at the 2024 Vuelta a España and his decisive impact on the penultimate stage of the 2025 Giro d’Italia reaffirming his value in the biggest races.
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